SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION OF MINERAL MATTER IN AN AUSTRALIAN BITUMINOUS COAL (WHYBROW SEAM, NSW) USING X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY AND LASER IONIZATION MASS ANALYSIS

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), laser ionisation mass analysis (LIMA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to investigate comp osition, occurrence and association of mineral species on polished, fr actured and powder surfaces of an Australian bituminous coal from the Whybrow seam, Saxonvale Colliery, New South Wales. XPS on raw coal sam ples revealed composition and the likely mineral types present which w ere concentrated predominantly in different bands of the coal. This wa s further confirmed using a new rapid and selective LIMA experimental method which is devised and optimised for in situ mineral particle ide ntification. A series of mineral species occurring as fine, distribute d inclusions were rapidly identified using LIMA, including quartz, pyr ite, and a number of clays and carbonates. In addition, evidence for o rganic and inorganic sulfur species and some trace elements were also obtained from individual particles. Mineral identifications were confi rmed by ashing the samples and analysis using XRD. This work highlight s the advantages of using XPS and LIMA as complementary methods for co al mineral study.